BREAKING: Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, has been charged in Palm Beach County with soliciting of a prostitute, according to Jupiter Police. The charges stem from an months long investigation into a massage parlor. @CBSMiami

UPDATE: A spokesman for Kraft has released a statement addressing the charges.

“We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting further.”

Glenn Kessler of The Washington Post notes:

While Trump regularly claims, with no evidence, human trafficking takes place across the southern border between ports of entry — and that it’s impossible to go through airports — police documents allege the women in the Kraft case “came from China on temporary work visas.” https://t.co/WdtDiyFieS

As NPR reported last month, illegal visa overstays far exceeded unauthorized border crossings for the past seven years. For all of Trump’s scare stories about women tied up and thrown in the backs of vans to be driven across open stretches of desert, the reality is that most victims of human trafficking come to America through legal means such as visas.

Kraft is a long-time friend of President Trump. The Patriots owner says that Trump constantly called and supported him in the year after his wife died in 2011. Kraft donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund two years ago, and the Patriots were the first national sports champion to visit the current president in the White House after winning the 2017 Super Bowl. The team even presented Trump with an official Super Bowl ring as thanks for his hospitality in hosting the players.

UPDATE:

Adam Schefter just said on SportsCenter that a source told him Kraft is “not the biggest name” caught up in this sting. ……………

Justin Baragona is the founder and publisher of Contemptor. He was previously the Cable News Correspondent for Mediaite and prior to starting Contemptor, he worked on the editorial staff of PoliticusUSA. During that time, he had his work quoted by USA Today and BBC News, among others. Justin began his published career as a political writer for 411Mania. He resides in St. Louis, MO with his wife and pets.